कई (kaii)

adjective An indefinite quantifier meaning 'several/many' -- used before plural nouns to indicate an unspecified but notable number, greater than a couple but not necessarily huge.
Sense 1 : several, many (indefinite plural quantity)
adjective Always precedes a plural noun; the noun itself takes ordinary plural/oblique marking as needed, e.g. कई लोगों ने (kaii logon ne).
Synonyms: बहुत (bahut), अनेक (anek, slightly more formal), बहुत सारे (bahut saare)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear this constantly in everyday chatter: कई बार (kaii baar, 'many times') is one of the most common phrases in spoken Hindi, used the way English speakers say 'several times' or 'quite a few times.' It has a nice vague, conversational feel -- not a precise count, just 'more than a few.'
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use कई (kaii) with a singular noun by mistake -- it only ever governs plural nouns. 2) Don't confuse with कोई (koii, 'some/any one'), which is singular -- the two look similar but कई (kaii) is strictly plural while कोई (koii) picks out one unspecified item.
Sample Sentences:
मैंने उसे कई बार समझाया है। I have explained it to him several times.
(mainne use kaii baar samjhaayaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कई लोग इस बात से सहमत नहीं हैं। Several people do not agree with this.
(kaii log is baat se sahmat nahiin hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह कई सालों से यहाँ रह रही है। She has been living here for several years.
(vah kaii saalon se yahaan rah rahii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कई बार सोचता हूँ कि नौकरी छोड़ दूँ। Many times I think about quitting my job.
(kaii baar sochtaa hoon ki naukrii chhod doon।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कृपया कई विकल्पों पर विचार कीजिए, केवल एक पर नहीं। Please consider several options, not just one.
(kripyaa kaii vikalpon par vichaar kiijie, keval ek par nahiin।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर उसे कई मौके मिलते, तो वह जरूर सफल होता। If he had gotten several chances, he would surely have succeeded.
(agar use kaii mauke milte, to vah jaroor saphal hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कई कंपनियाँ अगले साल तक अपने दफ्तर बंद कर देंगी। Several companies will shut down their offices by next year.
(kaii kampniyaan agle saal tak apne daphtar band kar dengii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
हो सकता है कई मेहमान देर से पहुँचें। It's possible that several guests will arrive late.
(ho saktaa hai kaii mehmaan der se pahunchen।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
इस मामले की कई अखबारों में चर्चा हुई। This matter was discussed in several newspapers.
(is maamle kii kaii akhbaaron men charchaa huii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
उसने कई बार फोन किया, पर किसी ने नहीं उठाया। He called several times, but no one picked up.
(usne kaii baar phon kiyaa, par kisii ne nahiin uthaayaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कई रास्ते इस पहाड़ी की चोटी तक जाते हैं। Several paths lead to the top of this hill.
(kaii raaste is pahaadii kii chotii tak jaate hain।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant: कई (kaii)